If collecting were merely about purchasing, the fun would soon fade. Buying and buying and buying, rather like overeating, is ultimately unrewarding. For me, the fun is in the "hunt"--that relentless pursuit of a particular figure to fill a gap in my collection. Of course, this takes endless vigilance that is rewarded only sometimes.

About fifteen years ago, I bought the little dog below at auction in the UK. Titled "& VAL LAY", she clearly was one of a pair, and I would have loved to have owned her mate too.

At the time, I recognized VAL as having all the attributes of a "Sherratt" figure, so I looked in Malcolm Hodkinson's fantastic little book "Sherratt? A Natural Family." My little dog, whom I dub Val, was not recorded in the book, but Malcolm had devoted a whole chapter to a sub-group of "Sherratt" figures that he titled "The Rover Group." Who is Rover? Well, he is none other than the companion figure to Val.

I took Val to England in around 2004 to photograph her together with Rover, who lives in a private collection. As you see, they make a perfect pairing, and the titles read "ROVER & VAL LAY."

As pretty as the pair is, these dogs reside an ocean apart. I have searched for all these years to find a Rover to pair with my Val, but to no avail. The only other Rover I have seen is the dog below, untitled, with a different "Sherratt" bocage and a black rather than deep brown coat.

Once upon a time, I am sure there was an untitled figure of Val to pair with the untitled Rover, but until last month I had not come across another Val of any sort. Then, unexpectedly, the figure of Val below came my way. This time her coat is black, and she has a "Sherratt" bocage not seen on any of the other Rover and Val pooches.

So now my problems have compounded: I have two figures of Val, BOTH of which need a Rover. I must continue looking!

Unrecorded figures do keep coming to light. Recently, John Howard added this sweet little cow spill vase to his site. The floral garlands on the base are a definitive "Sherratt" feature, and the cow is of the same form as other "Sherratt" cows, so I am confident of the attribution.

Courtesy John Howard

I was still mulling this nice addition to the body of "Sherratt" figures, when, believe it or not, the companion vase, below, went through auction

Courtesy Halls Fine Art

What are the odds of two unrecorded figures that form a pair surfacing on the market within weeks of each other? Apparently, it can happen, and not knowing what will turn up next makes collecting exciting.

Recently, I bought a small pair of figures at auction in the US. Thrown into a lot of five figures, they certainly did not get the respect they deserve. They are an unrecorded pair of enamel-painted figures that can be attributed to Ralph Wood and date to circa 1785. I know of figures of this form only from a pair in the literature, said to be in the Southport Museum. Both the museum figures are unpainted and are impressed "Ra. Wood Burslem"; and the male figure is impressed "78" in the manner of other Ralph Wood figures.

It is disappointing, but not surprising, that the auction house did not catalog this charming early pair in a manner that reflects their significance and rarity. On the other hand, how many collectors care? Collecting has, in my opinion, reached new lows, with far too much emphasis being placed on cuteness and perfection (never mind if the latter has only been achieved with considerable effort from an expert restorer.)